Ice Breaker:
Tell us about an act of kindness small or large that someone did for you during a hard time in your life.
Prayer:
Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and reveal God’s truth in your lives. Ask for courage and grace to discuss things that can be thorny topics.
View the After Party:
As part of this series, the After Party will focus on skills and dynamics that can help with inviting vulnerability and supporting one another in healthy ways. These will be longer than the usual After Party, but we highly recommend starting each group with them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-hjvMRJWn4
Discussion:
- Do you have a story you can share about a time when someone else’s past pain helped you? What about a time when you were able to use your past painful experiences to help someone else?
- What are some ways that God has used the pain you’ve experienced as a building block to something greater in your life?
- Have you ever felt isolated in your pain – like no one else would understand? What would you say to your past self now (or to someone else in the present) who is hurting in that way?
- You don’t have to share any answers out-loud on this one, but take a moment and ask yourself if you have any unhealthy habits in an attempt to numb your pain. (They could be things like scrolling, shopping, pornography, workaholism, alcohol, entertainment, etc.). Now share any thoughts you might have on how to approach this issue (be as general or specific as you want).
- How big of a role does serving others play in your life right now? Do you have room to serve in some capacity? (What might be holding you back?) Are you overextended? (Is there dead weight that can be pruned?)
- Is there anything that you need right now? Would you be brave enough to share?
Closing prayer:
-Are there needs/requests from anyone?
-Ask God to give you the strength you need to take the right next steps.
-Ask Him also to give you eyes to see people the way He sees them and the ability to serve them.
-Thank Him that when we are in Him nothing is wasted – not even hardship and pain.